Sept. 30, 2004
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern continues its strong slate this weekend, traveling to Ann Arbor, Mich., for matches against two more ranked foes. The Wildcats face No. 17 Harvard Friday and the seventh-ranked Wolverines Saturday.
NU (6-4, 0-1 Big Ten) is coming off a pair of strong matches, including a 1-0 shutout of Iowa in a nonconference tilt in double overtime. The shutout was Northwestern's first in a double-overtime match since 1994.
"Our defensive squad and goalkeepers have improved from game to game both individually and as a unit," Wildcat head coach Kelly McCollum said. "Our defense is now able to put our team in a strong position to win every game."
As the Big Ten season kicks into high gear, the Wildcats have also showcased their depth--four of NU's seven freshmen have already earned starts this season--without the drop off typical in a young team.
"We have found versatility in many of our younger players which has allowed us to fill holes as needed on a day-to-day basis without skipping a beat," McCollum said. "This is a credit to how hard we train as a team and for each other."
Helping to bring along the teams' newcomers at such a quick pace are an increasingly solid group of upperclassmen.
"Our older players really made big strides in the opening weekend of conference play," McCollum said. "As a group they have helped set a standard for NU field hockey that is now the expectation."
That depth is necessary when facing top programs, which Northwestern has not shied away from this season. Three of NU's four losses have come at the hands of top-10 opponents.
The challenges keep coming this weekend, beginning at noon Friday against No. 17 Harvard. The Crimson come into Friday's match with a 5-2 record after starting the year just as NU did--with a four-match winning streak. Shelley Maasdorp leads Harvard with 13 points on five goals and three assists.
Saturday the Wildcats face seventh-ranked Michigan (7-3, 1-0 Big Ten). The Wolverines' Jessica Blake ranks second in the Big Ten with 14 goals and 33 points, just ahead of NU's Candice Cooper (Winnetka, Ill./New Trier) who ranks third with 11 scores and 25 points.
"Both matches are against tough opponents and will be battles to the end," McCollum said. "Our team will take the field this weekend to control our own level and expectation of play."
'CAT NIPS
* Northwestern has only faced the Crimson once before, winning a 7-0 decision over the Ivy League school on Sept. 17, 1983, in Cambridge, Mass.
* The Wildcats hold a 28-14 series advantage over the Wolverines.
* Cooper currently leads the Big Ten in shots, firing 7.30 per contest.